Machine for bagging potatoes or the like



Dec. 22, 1936. H. c. STOCKDALE 2,065,158

MACHINE FOR BAGGING POTATOES OR THE LIKE Filed March 10, 1935 IN V ENTOR.

Patented Dec. 22, 1936 STATES MACHINE FOR BAGGING POTATOES OR THE L IKEHarry G. Stockdale, Ravenna, Ohio, assignor to Food MachineryCorporation, San Jose, Calif a corporation of Delaware Application March10,

11 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for bagging fruits or vegetablesbut is particularly adapted to the bagging of potatoes.

The requirements for successful potato bagging machines are moreexacting than at first thought might be supposed. Present machines areeither so high in price and so complicated that growers and shippersmust have a vast volume of product to handle to make the investmentprofitable, or they are not entirely satisfactory from structuralconsiderations.

A successful potato bagger must be easily portable so that it can bequickly placed into operative position with any type of grading orcleaning machine and must be capable of handling the product as fast asit comes from such machines. The means for holding the bags must besimple and effective and must be capable of taking substantially allsizes of bags, that is size of openings, means must be provided to keepthe stream of potatoes moving almost continuously so there is noclogging of the cleaning or grading machines, the bag holding devicesmust be so connected to the apparatus that the bags may be placed andremoved after filling with the least effort and manipulation by theoperators, the manner of positioning and holding the bags must be suchthat the stream of swiftly moving potatoes are not projected against anyhard objects to bruise or mutilate their skins and the bags must becapable of filling as rapidly as flow of potatoes will permit.

The bagger disclosed by this application is a complete easily portableunit; it has means for diverting the stream of potatoes into twoseparate paths so there is a continuous flow into a positioned bag; ithas means for holding the bags tightly and the mouths stretched so thefull opening is available for the entrance of the stream of potatoes; ithas means for clamping the bags in filling position without in anymanner piercing the bag fabric or causing it to tear or mutilate; it hasmeans for automatically releasing the filled bags from the holdingdevices when a filled bag is to be removed; it has no holding devices onthe front side of the bags Where the potatoes strike when they roll downthe chute so there is no bruising or mutilation of the falling potatoes;there are two bag holders on each unit apparatus so that While one bagis filling the operator can remove a filled bag and place an empty bagthus giving continuous operation and thereby the maximum daily output.

It is therefor an object of this invention to provide an apparatus forbagging potatoes or any rollable articles wherein at least two bags areavailable on the apparatus in alternate relation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus forbagging potatoes or the 1933, Serial No. 660,295

like that will be a complete operative unit and easily portable so itmay be instantly attached or placed in position to receive product fromany type of potato handling device.

It is also an object to provide a potato bagging device having means fordiverting a stream of potatoes alternately into two separate paths witha positioned bag in position at all times to receive a continuous flowof potatoes.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a potato baggingmachine or the like having means for clamping the bags in positionwithout in any manner piercing the fabric of the bags or mutilating itin any manner.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a potato baggingmachine or the like having means for automatically releasing the bagsfrom the holding devices to facilitate the movements of the operator andthereby add to the elficiency of the device.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a potato baggingdevice having bag holding devices that will not bruise or mutilate thepotatoes as they drop from the filling chute into the bags.

With such objects in view as well as other advantages which may beinherent in the invention consisting in the parts and combinationsconstituting the same, it is understood that the several necessaryelements and combinations as set forth in the claims may be varied intheir arrangement and placement without departing from the scope andnature of the invention.

In order to make the invention more clearly understood there are shown,somewhat diagrammatically, in the accompanying drawing means andmechanism for placing the invention in the preferred form, withoutlimiting the improvements to the particular construction shown toillustrate the invention.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus showing one bag inposition to receive the stream of potatoes.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail of one of the bag clamping devices.

In this view the open sides of the clamping tubes are shown indisconnected relation, the tube 9 in position to enter tube 8.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail view of the opposite clamping device,being the one shown in the rear of Figure 2 and clearly shows theclamping tubes assembled and the inner tube projecting rearwardly todislodge the back top edge of the bag when the clamps are turned to thepositi n of Figure 5.

Figure 5 is a further detail of a bag clamping device.

Figure 6 is also a detail of a bag clamping device showing a bag inposition and the manner of clamping the bag and holding it in position.

Figure 7 is a plan of the rails on which the shanks of clamping members8 are secured and show a series of holes to permit of lateral adjustmentof the bag holders to compensate for large and small mouth bags.

In the drawing I represents generally the frame work of the machine,which as shown is made of wood but of course may be made of metal ifdesired without in any manner changing or afiecting the operation orutility. 2 is the chute or runway down which the stream of potatoesslides as it is directed into the positioned bag. 3 is :a bag inposition to receive the potatoes sliding down the runway 2. 4 representsthe inside bag holders and 5 the outside bag holders. ii is a pivotedsweep board movable across the runway 2 so as to direct the stream ofpotatoes into either of the positioned bags.

Figs. 4, 3, 5 and 6 show clearly the construction and operation of thebag holders. These views may represent the holders 5.

The frame work of the holder comprises a casting l having the circularmember 8 and a telescopic circular member 9. The member a is preferablymade of a thin walled steel tubing so that it will spring sufiicientlyto clamp the bag tightly and still not tear or mutilate it. The tube 9carries a rod IE) extending through an inclined slot 1 l in the tubularportion 8. The inclined slot 5 l acting to move the tube 9 axially ofthe tube 8 when the handle W is moved. The bag holders 4 and 5 are setin an inclined position relative to a horizontal plane so that the frontand side of the bag is elevated to surely catch the speeding potatoes asthey fall from the end of the chute 2.

The operation of the device would be substantially as follows:

The outer end of the chute 2 is so made that it will align withsubstantially any kind of delivery device from any potato handlingequipment. A bag isplaced around the back ends of the tubular members 8and the edges of the bag drawn into the slots l2 formed by the tubes 8and 9 when the handles are positioned horizontal. If the bag opening issubstantially the same as the area defined by the holders it will justfit around the front ends of the holders 8 and 9 and be substantiallytaut. If, however the bag opening is larger then the bag is stretchedtightly across the back and sides and the surplus drawn across the frontends of the holders 8 and 9 and stretched flat across the end and tuckedinto the slot l2 and the bag is then clamped in this position by turningthe handles it] from the horizontal to the vertical, or substantiallyvertical and the inner tube 9 will be drawn toward the front side of thebag due to the handle moving in the inclined slot M. This turning of thehandles it will clamp the edges of the bagin substantially the mannershown in Fig. 6. The positioned bag is now ready to receive bag holdersand secures the bag in the same manner as described. About this time thefirst bag will be filled when theoperator willquickly swing the chuteboard 6 into its other position to change the direction of flow of thestream of potatoes.

While this bag is filling he removes the filled bag and replaces it withan empty one.

Bags weighing in the neighborhood of 100 pounds or over are quite heavyto handle all day long and since the bags must be securely fastened tothe bag holders during the filling operation they cannot be moved aboutvery much in detaching them from the holders. Here is where the axialmovement of the inner clamping tube 9 becomes efiective and useful. Asthe operator moves the handles H] to the horizontal position the axialsliding of the tube 9 in the tube 8 tends to push the back side of thebag away from the end of the tube 8 and thus release it from its clampedposition so that the operator has only to pull the edges out of theslots 52 sideways when the bag is free for removal.

The elevation of the outside holders relative to the inside holderslifts the outer side and front edge of the bag high enough so thepotatoes will not jump over the top, and since there is no supportingmeans across the front of the bag there is nothing to bruise thepotatoes.

In placing the bags onrthe clamping holders it is not always necessarythat the bags be clamped on both sides. If the bag edge is drawn intoone of the slots i2 and then into the other and the front slackstretched across the front and tucked into the other slot 12 and clampedin this slot l2 the bag will be held for all ordinary use, this simplyreduces somewhat the movements the operator has to go through inclamping and unclamping the bags as they are placed and removed, sincein this manner of manipulation only one clamping handle it need bemoved, the other slot i 2 remains constantly open as in Fig. 5.

The bag clamping device is so secure and firm that it will hold bagssuspended when filled when the bags are too short to reach the fioor andthere will be no slightest tearing or mutilation of the bag fabric.

The small vertical space occupied by the bag clamps, and their upwardinclination lifts them above the line of the stream of potatoes so thatthe potatoes strike against the bag under the clamps and their blow isthus cushioned by the flexible bag material which reduces thepossibility of bruise or mutilation.

Throughout the specification potatoes and the like have been referred tobut applicant wants it understood that many other material such ascereals, fruits of various kinds and in fact any material that will rollor slide down an inclined chute may be bagged by -the invention.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desiredto be covered by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for filling bags comprising means for supporting a bagincluding a pair of telescopic sleeves with registering longitudinalslots for the reception of an edge of an open end bag, one of saidsleeves being fixed, means for imparting rotary movement to the innersleeve and at the same time imparting axial movement thereto whileclamping a bag placed therein, the reverse movement of said inner sleevepushing said bag out of engagement with said fixed sleeve.

2. A bag holder comprising means forsupporting the bag including apairof telescopic sleeves with registering longitudinal slots for therecept1on of the edges of an open bag, the outer of said sleeves beingfixed, means to impart axial and rotational movements to the innersleeve, while clamping a bag between or removing a clamped bag frombetween peripheral surfaces of said sleeves, including an inclined slotin the outer sleeve and a rod carried by the inner sleeve and extendingthrough the slot.

3. In a bag filling machine, a supporting frame work, a pair of spacedand fixed tubular arms for supporting a bag by its top edges secured tosaid frame work, each arm being provided along its outer side with alongitudinal slot extending entirely therethrough for receiving the edgeof a bag inserted therein, a slot in the said arm, an opensidedrotatable sleeve telescoped within each arm and coacting with said armsfor engaging and holding the edges of a bag inserted in said slots, anda handle secured to the inner sleeve and extending through said slot forrotating said open sided inner sleeves within said arms to force theinserted edges of the bag between the peripheral surfaces of said armsand sleeves to securely clamp the said edges in position.

4. In a bag filling machine, a pair of nonrotatable bag holding armscircular in cross section and having oppositely disposed longitudinalslots in the walls thereof, a hollow tube in each arm of lesser diameterthan the inner diameter of said arms and being rotatable therein andhaving a longitudinal slot therein for registration with the slot in anarm so that the top edges of a bag may be inserted within the registeredslots and extend within the inner rotatable tube or sleeve, means forrotating the said rotatable tubes to bring the edges of the slots inoverlapping relation and thereby clamp the inserted edges of the bagbetween peripheral surfaces of said tubes and arms.

5. In a bagging machine, a supporting frame work, a pair of spaced bagholding arms secured to said frame work, for supporting opposite edgesof a bag to be filled, each of said arms comprising a hollow tube withan inner rotatable sleeve, one telescoping within the other, alongitudinal opening in each arm and inner sleeve adapted when inregistration to admit the edges of a bag, a slot in the outer tube and apin riding in said slot and secured to the inner sleeve for rotating theinner sleeve to bring the edges of the slots in overlapping relation andthereby clamp the edges of the bag between peripheral surfaces of saidarms and sleeves.

6. In a bag filling machine, a fixed arm for supporting an edge of a bagcomprising a hollow sleeve provided with a longitudinal slottherethrough for receiving the edge of a bag, a hollow tube rotatablytelescoped within the sleeve and also provided with a longitudinal slotfor registration with the slot in the sleeve, means for turning the tubeto overlap opposed edges of said tube and sleeve to clamp the edge of abag between the tube and the sleeve whereby to hold it firmly in place,and a second arm provided with a longitudinal slot for supporting theopposite edge of the bag.

7. In an apparatus for holding bags a tubular bag clamping means forholding the top edge of a bag, said clamping means comprising twotelescopic members one of which is rotatable, longitudinal openings insaid members that register when relative rotation is imparted to saidtelescopic members, a slot and pin connection between said telescopicmembers for imparting relative rotation therebetween for forcing theedges of the bag between peripheral surfaces of said telescopic membersto securely clamp them therebetween, said slot and pin connection beingarranged to give axial movement between said telescopic members whensaid pin is moved in the slot, as well as giving relative rotationthereto.

8. A clamping arm for bag holding devices comprising an outersleeve-like clamping member having a longitudinal slot therein, and aninner clamping member arranged within the outer clamping member andprovided with a slot for registering with the slot in the outer clampingmember to receive the edge of a bag inserted therein, one of saidclamping members being rotatable to move its slot out of registrationwith the other whereby to wedge the edge of said bag between adjacentperipheral surfaces of said clamping members.

9. In a bag holding device, a support, a laterally projecting clampingarm carried by said support comprising an outer sleeve-like clampingmember having a longitudinal slot therein, and an inner clamping memberarranged within the outer clamping member and provided with a slot forregistration with the slot in the outer clamping member to receive theedge of a bag inserted therein, one of said clamping members beingrotatable to move its slot out of registration with the other whereby towedge the edge of said bag between adjacent peripheral surfaces of saidclamping members, and means for supporting the opposite edge of the bag.

10. In a bag holding device, a support, a laterally projecting clampingarm carried by said support comprising an outer sleeve-like clampingmember and an inner clamping member arranged therewithin, one of saidclamping members being fixed to said support and having a longitudinalslot extending along its side, and the other clamping member beingrotatable and provided with a slot for registration with the slot in thefixed clamping member to receive the edge of a bag inserted therein,means for turning said rotatable clamping member to move its slot out ofregistration with the other whereby to wedge the edge of said bagbetween adjacent peripheral surfaces of said clamping members, and meansmounted in spaced relation to said clamping arm to the side opposite theslot in said fixed clamping member for supporting the opposite edge ofsaid bag.

11. In a bag holding device, a support, a laterally projecting clampingarm carried by said support comprising an outer sleeve like clampingmember and an inner clamping member arranged therewithin, one of saidclamping members being fixed to said support and having a longitudinalslot extending along its side, and

the other clamping member being rotatable and provided with a slot forregistration with the slot in the fixed clamping member to receive theedge of a bag inserted therein, means for tuming said rotatable clampingmember to move its slot out of registration with the other whereby toWedge the edge of said bag between adjacent peripheral surfaces of saidclamping members, means for imparting axial movement to said rotatableclamping member when it is turned to move an end thereof back and forthbeyond the corresponding end of the fixed clamping member, and means forsupporting the opposite edge of the bag.

HARRY C. STOCKDALE.

